Former Denver lineman Michael Dean Perry signs with Kansas City

DENVER (AP) _ The Kansas City Chiefs have claimed defensive tackle Michael Dean Perry, who was released this week by the Denver Broncos.

Perry, 32, was claimed by the Chiefs on waivers Thursday and was expected to practice with the team today.

When the Broncos released him Tuesday, Perry had been inactive for six of the team’s last seven games.

Perry spent two months in rehabilitation trying to build strength in his left knee, which has been giving him trouble since he underwent surgery on his right toe last summer.

He was in the final year of a three-year, $7.2 million contract with Denver when he was released. This season, Perry had 11 tackles in nine games and 39 tackles, including 33 unassisted, in 15 games last season.

It is uncertain whether Perry will play in Sunday’s regular-season finale against New Orleans, but he is expected to be activated for the playoffs.

The Chiefs are expected to pay Perry one-seventeenth of the $1.4 million he was scheduled to make with Denver this season, according to a report in today’s Denver Post.

His new salary amounts to slightly more than $82,000. The league pays player during the playoffs.

Since training camp, two former Broncos players have signed with Kansas City, including Perry and Dan Williams. The Chiefs also signed former Broncos center-guard Ralph Tamm before this season.